Molding machine



June 3, 1930.' T. E. MCFALL 1,761,736,

MOLDING MACHINE Filed April 23, 1928 5 SheetSfSheet l 3@ 352 33 l" 2.9 Z7 'zz- 28 33 f4/5 227 ,27g 42 1? 15 l I6 i A '1| '2J e l 1.9

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Filed April 23,`1928 T.- E. MCF-ALL MLDlNG MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2v 36 3l 37 .s 32 32 r I "hm 8 3a Z S .27@ 29 `30 34 2] l Y 35 A h 41'5 z- ,2'9 ,917g 23m 1514 l i l? lnoel'or Fhurlo HCFA 'MMM @Kome June 3, 1930. T. E. MCFALL MOLDING MACHINE 5" sheets-sheet 5 Filed April 25, 1928 June 3, 1930. l T E, MCFALL y 1,761,736

MOLDING vMACHINE lnoeno'r Thutlom E WTG Norim i June` 3, '1930.

T. E. MCFALL MOLDING MACHINE Filed April. 23, 1928 5 Sheets-Shet 5 Thurlou E. WFQH @Q5-Of' w Patented June 3, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE rHUaLoW E. MCFALL, .or sterre, momenti. assieme To snare FQUNDRY COM- I PANY, .0F Smau. niemeer. A QOREOMTION F MIGHiGeN MOLDING Meer;.um

Application filed April 23,

This invention relates to ,a molding machine which may be used for making dupli-l Cate molds rapidly in large quantities for the plQduction of castings where a large number of castings of the same are to be made. 'lhe invention is directed to navel constructions and designs for the quick andeffective operation of the machine, the squeezing of thc mold in the fiask and drawing ofthe patw terns from the mold, the machine being operated by compressed air for large quantity production.

The invention for the attainment of the ends stated, as well as many others not at this. i5 time enumerated, will be readily understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings', in

which Fig. 1 is a partial elevation and section through the molding apparatus of my invention, the .plane of the section being subst-antially that of line 1?.-1 of Fig., 4 with the Inacliine in its lowermost position and the flask empty ready to receive sand.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing themachine elevated and the mold in the laSl in' the operation of squeezing and compressing the same.`

Fig. 3 is a similarsection illustrating the manner in which the patterns are withdrawn from the mold. l

Fig.V 4 is a horizontal section substantially on the plane of line of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the machine.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section sub,- rsztantially o n the plane of lines 6 6 ofv Fig.

t, and

Fig. 7 is a plan of a flask and mold therein, a plurality of which are to be stacked one above the other.

Like reference characters refer to likeparts in the different figures of the' drawings. i

In the construction vof the. machine, alower-y cylinder 1 is provided `in which a cylindrical ram 2 is mounted for reciprocation being de. signed forupward movement under the ac-. tion of compressed air introduced intorthe lower end ofthe cylinder 1. Such method of operating a ram in a molding machine is not new and the means for introducing corn- CJD 192,85 Seri-a1 No. 272,010.

pressed air and controlling the same is not illustrated or described.

At the Vupper end of the ram 2, a table 3 iS fixed. This table is located a distance below the squeezing head 4 which is rigidly mounted in any desired member and on .the under side of which is a combined head and pattern plate 5, certain portions ofthe gate pattelllS 6 being formed on the under side of the plate 5 as shown. The plate 5 is located directly over the table 3.

On the upper side of theftable 3 a base platef'?, preferably of square outline, is secured project-ing upwardly from which are a plurality of short Valoutments 8, the purpose of which will hereinafter appear. At a plurality of different points on 'the plate, four' as shown in the present disclosure, cylinders 9 are threaded into the plate and partly therethrough extending upward therefrom and at their upper ends being closed by caps 10. These caps are removable if desired. A.

sleeve 11 is loosely mounted in each cylinder' and rests at its lower end on a piston 12 from which a rod l'extendsupw-ardly through the ca l10.

pipe 14 is located around the basey Plate 7 and has branches 15 Vleading.therefrom into the lower ends of the various cylinders. 9.v All inlet pipe 16 connects with .the .pipe 14,- iOI carrying compressed air thereto. The p ipe 16 is connected to one side of a valvepcaSllflg 17', while at a diametrically opposed side Vof the casing, the main supply pipe 18 for compressed air is attached, it leading to any suitable source ofcoinpressedair. VA .rotary valve is mounted' in the valve casing, having a passage therethrough along one diameter of the val-ve and a branch passage 19.a Vlocated at right `angles to the `passage 19. The valve casingalso has exhaust ontlet20located substantiallyat right angles to the connections of the pipes 161 and 17 to the valve casing. By turning the valve to the position Vshown in Fig. 3,' compressed airis carried to all of the cylinders 9; while by turning the valve to either of the-.positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the air which is zin cylinders 9 flows back and exhausts through the outlet 20. Y

A boxlike body'member, also square in outline, is located above the base plate 7 and in its lower position rests upon the abutments 8. It has vertical sides 21 and a bottom 22. A central opening 23 of the shape best shown in Fig. 4 is cast integral with and extends upwardly from the bottom 22. The member 23 is provided with a plurality of vertical open ings into which guide pins or rods 211 secured at their lower ends to the base plate 7 extend, acting as guides for the vertical movements of the so-called box like member. A sprue pattern in the form of a cylindrical pin 25, tapered at its upper end portion, is also fixed at its lower end to the base plate 7 and extends upwardly through the member 23 and a dis- Itance above the same.

IVithin the sides 21 of said box-like member and at each corner thereof is a curved vertical partition 26 which, with the opposin(T sides of the member 23, defines cylindrica spaces in the upper end of each of which a pattern 27 is located. The pattern is in the form of a cylindrical cup open at its upper end and having a bottom which is fixedly secured to a plurality of posts 27a. rFliese extend downwardly to the bottom 22 and are fixed at their lower ends to thel base plate 7. A stripping plate 28 is detachably secured by means of a plurality of screws to the upper end of the box-like member described, having openings for the passage of the sprue pattern pin 25 and for the passage of the patterns 27. A post 29 is fixed at its lower end to the bottom 22 for each of the patterns and at its upper end extends through the bottom of its associatedpattern and carries a circular plate 29a of the same thickness and lying in the same plane with the stripper plate 28. The plate 28 at its upper side also is formed with a plurality of ribs 28, as shown in Fig. 5, which form other parts of the gate patterns for the mold. A sheet metal skirt or shield is fastened to the sides 21 and extends therefrom downwardly and outwardly at an angle to the horizontal to the edges of the table 3 and serves to deflect said outward beyond the outer limits of the machine.

In the operation of the machine a flask 31 is located above the plate 28. At opposite sides of the flask are outwardly projecting brackets 32 with which latches 33 mounted on bracket supports 34: projecting from opposite sides 21 of the box member engage, the same being operated to engage or disengage with the brackets 32 by handles 35. Guide rods 36 extend upwardly from the brackets 34 serving as flask pin guides byv engaging in notches in the brackets 32 and also, when the ram is forced upwardly, at their upper ends entering suitable openings in the overhead squeezing head 4.

With the mechanism in the position shown in Fig. 1, the flask is ready to receive sand. The patterns 27 extend above the stripper plate 28 which with the plates 29a form a bottom for the ilask as shown. Sand is placed in the mold and then the compressed air is turned on to force the ram 2 upwardly, bringing the sand against the head 5 whereby it is squeezed to the desired density, and fills all the cavities of the mold and around the upper end portion of the pin 25 and those parts of the pattern which proj ect above plate 28 5 also the upper side ofthe mold is shaped in accordance with the gate patterns 6. The next operation is to turn the valve in casing 27 to the position shown in Fig. 3 whereupon compressed air passes into the cylinders 9. The air is then exhausted from below the ram 2 with a consequent downward movement of the ram and the table 3. But the flask mold, stripping plate 28 and the box member to which it is secured are held in upper position, as shown in Fig. 3, due to the compressed air causing the pistons 12 to remain stationary while the cylinders 9 are moving downwardly. As soon, however, as the upper ends of the sleeves 11 engage against the caps 10, pistons 12 and their attached rods 13 move downwardly with the ram 2 thereby carrying the mold and flask away from the head 5. But the stripping plate 28 and the box member secured thereto remain at their upper positions relative to the base plate 7 and because the patf terns 27 are directly connected to the base plate by the posts 27 a the patterns are withdrawn from the mold with their upper edges substantially'flush with the upper sides of the stripping plate 28.

The downward movement of the ram may continue until it reaches its lowermost position whereupon latches 33 are released, the flask with the mold 37 therein removed, a new flask put in its place and then the valve may be turned to the position in either Figs. 1 or 2, permitting an exhaust of air from cylinders 9 and the moving of the box member and its attached stripping plate to lower positions or until said member rests upon the abutments 8.

While I have described the turning of the air control valve in the valve casing 17 as occurring before the ram 2 is lowered, it is evident that the ram can be lowered into its lowermost position and the valve then turned, whereupon the pistons 12 will move upwardly in the cylinders 9 withdrawing the patterns 27 and lifting the stripping plate and the box member attached thereto to an upper position, which is determined by the length of the sleeves 11 within the cylinders 9.

It is evident that various sizes of patterns 2 7 may be attached to the posts 27 a. In practice, tlie openings in the stripper plate 28 are made to accommodate the largest sized pattern that is to be used. lVhen patterns smaller than the largest size are used, filling rings 38, shown in Fig. 5, are placed around the patterns having a snug or press fit into the openings of the plate 28; and of course,

llO

the circular plates 29Il are of diierent sizes to fit the different inner diameters of the patterns used. '4

The successive flasks 31 with the molds 37 therein are placed one above the other as shown in Fig. 6. The sprues 250 of the several molds are in alinement. The'gates 60 and 280 extend from the sprues between the several molds 37and the cylinder cavities 270 Vmade O by the patterns 27 join with the guides. This moldican be poured very readily so as to produce castings made by the iron fllling the mold cavitiesf270.

It is further evident that theV extent to which the patterns 27 are Withdrawn from the mold is governed by the length of the sleeves l1, and if a pattern 27 having a greater length than those shown is used the sleeves 11 must be correspondingly shortened. That is o sleeves l1 of a different length must be introduced into the cylinders. This can be readily accomplished by removing the caps which are threaded on to the upper ends of the cylinders 9.

5 The structure described is very practical and has so proved in service. It is durable and is effective for continuous operations, having no parts liable tobecome broken or get out of order. The invention is defined in the appended claims and is to be considered comprehensive of all forms of construction coming within the scope thereof.

I claim:

1. A molding machineV comprising, a

2 squeezing hea-d, a vertically reciprocable ram located under said squeezing head, a table at the upper end of the ram, a member mounted for vertical movements with respect to the table located above said table, a stripping plate carried at the upper side of said member, patterns connected with said table and Y adapted to extend through said stripping plate, and pneumatic means for separating said member and table.

5 2. A molding machine comprising, a

squeezing head, a vertically reciprocable ram located below the squeezing head, a table carried at the upper end of the ram, Va member having vertical sides and a bottom located 0 over said table, complementary guide means of the rods bearing against the under side of the stripping plate, sleeves loosely located in said cylinders between the pistons and the up- 'V per ends of the cylinders, and means for enupper ends of the cylinders, the upper endsV tering compressed air into said cylinders below said pistons.

3. A molding machine comprising, a squeezing head, said head having gate patterns formed thereon at its under side, a vertically reciprocable ram, a table at the upper end of the ram, a member located above the table, interengaging guide means on said member and table for guiding the member in its movements toward or away from the table, a horizontal stripper plate secured to the upper end of said member on which a flask is adapted to be placed, said stripper plate at its upper side having gate patterns thereon, mold patterns located within said member and adapted to extend at their upper portions through the stripper plate, connections between the lower side of said mold patterns and the table, and means for pneumatically moving said member and attached stripper plate to an upper position with respect to the table.

A. A construction containing the elementsV in combination defined in claim 3, and a sprue pattern pin attached to said table at its lower end and extending upwardly through said member and above the upper side of the stripper plate, with the inner ends of the gate patterns on the stripper plate engaging against the sides of the ,pin when said patterns are in lowerposition, the upper end of said pin 9 extending into said squeezing head in operative relation to the gate patterns on the lower side of the squeezing head when'said ram is elevated.

' lA molding machine comprising, a horizontal squeezing head, a vertically reciprocable ram, a horizontal table secured to the upper endof the ram, a base plate fixed to the upper side of the table, a, box-like member having vertical sides and bottom located over ythe table, guide pins connected to the base member and extending upwardly through guide openings in the said member, a horizontal stripper plate secured to said member at the upper end thereof', on which a flask is adapted to be placed, patterns located within the member adapted to extend at their upper portions 'through the stripper plate, posts connecting the lower sides'o said patterns with the Vbase plate, a` sprue pin pattern con` nected to the base plateA at its lower end and extending upwardly., through said member Vand above the same, a 'plurality of vertical cylinders threaded attheir lower ends into said base plate, caps detachably connected to and closingthe upper ends of the cylinders, pistons within said cylinders, rods extending vertically from the pistons through said caps and at their upper ends engaging against the lower side of the stripper plate, ,sleeves shorter than the length of the cylin ers located one in each cylinder betwee1 its cap and the piston therein, a continuons air carrymg pipe located around sajfifbase, branch pipes extending from said iirst pipe and connecting the same with the lower ends of said cylinders, a supply pipe for carrying compressed air to the rst pipe and a valve located in the supply pipe for directing compressed air thereto or exhausting air from said cylinders.

6. A construction containing the elements in combination defined in claim I, and a sprue pattern pin secured at its lower end to the table and extending through said member and stripping plate and above the stripping plate.

7. A molding machine comprising, a table, a stripping plate located above the table and `vertically movable relative to the table, mold patterns attached to said table and extending through said stripping plate, gate patterns fixed to said stripping plate and associatcd with said mold patterns and means for moving the stripping plate relative to the table and the mold pattern.

8. A construction containing the elements in combination deiined in claim 7, and a sprue pattern pin attached to said table and extending through and above the stripping plate, with the gate patterns on the stripping plate engaging against the sides of the sprue pattern pin.

9. A construction containing the elements in combination defined in claim 7, and a squeezing head located over said stripping plate, gate patterns on the under side of said squeezing head, a sprue pattern pin attached to said table and extending through and above said stripping plate and into an opening in said squeezing head.

l0. In a device of the class described for the purpose of making mold sections to be used in superposed relation, a stripping plate, a mold pattern extending through said stripping plate and adapted to be retracted below the surface of said stripping plate, a squeezing head located over said stripping plate and adapted to form the top surface of the mold, and gate patterns on the under surface of said squeezing head having sprue portions overlying said mold pattern whereby the gate pattern recesses in the upper surface of a mold will register with the mold pattern recesses in the lower surface of the next superposed mold.

ll. In a device of the class described for the purpose of making mold sections to be used in superposed relation, a stripping plate,

' a mold pattern extending through said stripping plate and adapted to be retracted below the surface of said stripping plate, immovable gate patterns on said stripping plate outside of said mold pattern, a squeezing head located over said stripping plate and adapted to form the top surface of the mold, ant` gate patterns on the under surface of said squeezing head having sprue portions overlying said'igiold pattern and other portions overlying said gate patterns on the stripping plate whereby the gate pattern recesses in the upper surface of a mold will register with the mold pattern and gate pattern recesses in the lower surface of the next superposed mold.

l2. A construction containing the elements in combination defined in claim l1, and means for forming a vertical opening completely through the mold and communicating with said gate pattern recesses on the lower surface of the mold.

In testimony whereof I afx my signature.

THURLOW E. MGFALL. 

